Data structure, data communication method, apparatus and communication terminal apparatus

Abstract

A data communication method in which the data frame transmitted from the transmission side to the reception side and the feedback frame transmitted from the reception side to the transmission side use a common format jointly, and in which if there is no substantial data to be transported by the feedback frame on the reception side, the feedback frame is transmitted from the reception side to the transmission side without changing the format of the feedback frame and lowering the reception rate. The common format includes at least the transmission data length, the transmission data, the data frame number and the repeat request frame number, and is added with the error detection code for all the data. If there is no substantial transmission data to be transported by the feedback frame on the reception side, then the feedback frame is arranged such that data unrelated to feedback information including at least the transmission data length, the transmission data and the data frame number within the feedback frame, is substituted with a predetermined fixed pattern, and thereafter an error detecting code for all the data is added thereto. Then, the feedback frame is transmitted from the reception side to the transmission side.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication system for communicating between a transmitter and a receiver, wherein when said transmitter transmits a data frame, a receiver feeds back a feedback frame to said transmitter, and wherein said data frame transmitted from said transmitter and said feedback frame fed back to said transmitter from said receiver have an identical format, said communication system comprising means for substituting a redundant portion of said feedback frame fed back from said receiver that is redundant to said data frame transmitted by said transmitter with a predetermined bit stream. 
     
     
       2. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined bit stream consists of all zeros. 
     
     
       3. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined bit stream consists of all ones. 
     
     
       4. The communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said identical format includes a transmission data length, transmission data, a transmission data frame number, a frame number to be retransmitted, and an error detecting code, and wherein said redundant portion of said feedback frame includes said transmission data length, said transmission data, and said transmission data frame number. 
     
     
       5. A communication method for performing data communication between a transmitter and a receiver, wherein a data frame transmitted by said transmitter and a feedback frame fed back from said receiver to said transmitter have an identical format, and wherein said communication method is utilized by said receiver, said method comprising the step of substituting a redundant portion of said feedback frame fed back from said receiver and containing no substantial information about a received data frame received by said receiver and redundant to said data frame transmitted by said transmitter with a predetermined bit stream upon forming said feedback frame in said receiver. 
     
     
       6. The communication method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said predetermined bit stream consists of all zeros. 
     
     
       7. The communication method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said predetermined bit stream consists of all ones. 
     
     
       8. The communication method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said identical format includes a transmission data length, transmission data, a transmission data frame number, a frame number to be retransmitted and an error detecting code, and wherein said redundant portion of said feedback frame includes said transmission data length, said transmission data and said transmission data frame number. 
     
     
       9. A communication method for performing data communication between a transmitter and a receiver, wherein a data frame transmitted by said transmitter and a feedback frame fedback from said receiver to said transmitter have an identical format and wherein said communication method is utilized by said transmitter receiving said feedback frame from the receiver, comprising the steps of: determining whether a first portion of the feedback frame transmitted by said receiver that is redundant to said data frame consists of a first predetermined bit stream; and   substituting a second portion of said feedback frame transmitted by said receiver that is redundant to said data frame with a second predetermined bit stream upon determining that said first portion of the feedback frame that is redundant to said data frame consists of the first predetermined bit stream.   
     
     
       10. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein a length of said first predetermined bit stream is fixed. 
     
     
       11. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein a length of said first predetermined bit stream is varied. 
     
     
       12. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first predetermined bit stream consists of all zeros. 
     
     
       13. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first predetermined bit stream consists of all ones. 
     
     
       14. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second predetermined bit stream consists of all zeros. 
     
     
       15. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second predetermined bit stream consists of all ones. 
     
     
       16. The communication method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said identical format includes a transmission data length, transmission data, a transmission data frame number, a frame number to be retransmitted, and an error detecting code, and wherein one of said first or second portion of said feedback frame which are redundant to said data frame at least include a part of said transmission data length, said transmission data and said transmission data frame number. 
     
     
       17. The communication method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of detecting an error located anywhere in the feedback frame after said second portion of said feedback frame that is redundant to said data frame is substituted with said second predetermined bit stream. 
     
     
       18. A feedback frame receiving apparatus for receiving a feedback frame transmitted by a receiver in response to a data frame transmitted by a transmitter, wherein said data frame transmitted by said transmitter and said feedback frame transmitted by said receiver have an identical format, said apparatus comprising: feedback frame input terminal means for supplying said feedback frame transmitted by said receiver;   determining means for determining whether a first portion of said feedback frame that is redundant to said data frame consists of a first predetermined bit stream;   second predetermined bit stream generating means for generating a second predetermined bit stream;   substituting means for substituting a second portion of said feedback frame with said second predetermined bit stream upon determining that said first portion of said feedback frame consists of said first predetermined bit stream; and   error detecting means for detecting an error in said feedback frame processed by said substituting means.   
     
     
       19. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein a length of said first predetermined bit stream is fixed. 
     
     
       20. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein a length of said first predetermined bit stream is varied. 
     
     
       21. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first predetermined bit stream consists of all zeros. 
     
     
       22. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first predetermined bit stream consists of all ones. 
     
     
       23. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second predetermined bit stream consists of all zeros. 
     
     
       24. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second predetermined bit stream consists of all ones. 
     
     
       25. The feedback frame receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said identical format includes a transmission data length, transmission data, a transmission data frame number, a frame number to be retransmitted and an error detecting code, and wherein one of said first or said second portion of the feedback frame at least include a part of said transmission data length, said transmission data and said transmission data frame number. 
     
     
       26. A radio communication terminal apparatus for performing data communication, wherein a data frame transmitted by a transmitter and a feedback frame transmitted by a receiver to said transmitter have an identical format, said apparatus comprising: an antenna for transmitting and for receiving a first signal and a second signal, respectively;   received signal processing means for processing said second signal received by said antenna;   transmitting signal processing means for processing said first signal to be transmitted by said antenna; and   baseband signal processing means for processing a baseband signal received by said antenna, wherein said baseband signal processing means includes feedback frame input terminal means for inputting said feedback frame transmitted by said receiver, determining means for determining whether a first portion of said feedback frame that is redundant to said data frame consists of a first predetermined bit stream, second predetermined bit stream generating means for generating a second predetermined bit stream, substituting means for substituting a second portion of said feedback frame that is redundant to said data frame with said second predetermined bit stream upon determining that said first portion of said feedback frame consists of said first predetermined bit stream, and error detecting means for detecting an error in said feedback frame processed by said substituting means.